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On a more serious note:
I wonder who’s gonna bat 5th now that Ruf is pretty much out of the regular lineup. I think Chooch would be great batting 5th, but who’s gonna do that in the meantime… Kratz?? Brown (a lefty)??

Cool Hamels wrapped his spring buildup today with an 84 pitch minor league game workout. He’ll get a wind down assignment mid week, and no doubt be as ready as he will be for his 1st Opening Day assignment.

The 84 pitch peak probably means he won’t throw more than 100 pitches against the Braves, translating to 6-7 innings. So whoever makes the pen better be ready for their assignment that day.

Opening Day is a thrill, and it’s always a privelege to add another one to the resume. But losing that day just drains the exhilaration. So the pen should loom large that day. Cannot wait!

The thing about Dom this spring isn’t the numbers, or at least alone…they always are some sort of suggestive measure, it’s that he is playing so much more a brand of heads up baseball. Used to be that twice a game, or no more than every other game, you’d watch a play, and think what is the kid thinking? He just made a nice charging catch in left because he’s PAYING ATTENTION, dammit. Players make mental errors regularly, they ome and go as forgotten whenthere’s no damage done, but Dom’s alertness seems to be at the core of what is certainly leading up to the sort of overachivement (relative to the past) year the club could flatout use. Now wheteher it rolls over, we can’t be certain, but health in place, he really looks prepared to meet the challenge.

Nice shut ’em down inning for the Stutes Man. Terrific spring after a miserable first outing.. If he;s not on the Opening Day roster, he can walk away knowing he couldn’t hve done more to have shown his skill.

Could go cycle this 9th as Lerud (deep shot), Galvis (usual double) and Orr (3 bagger) set a club record of most unexpected series of base hits in 1 inning since Lepcio, Malkmus and Bob Oldis crankeed it up back in the day.

Heaven forbid somebody should actually look up if those 3 did it. I doubt any of ’em had an extra base hit in their careers.

If Jake would just drop his arm slot a couple more inches, I’d feel like I was watching a southpaw rendition of Phil “Vulture” Regan. Those out of the ordinary deliveries, like Tekulve are always cool to watch.

I look at it differently. That ratio of walks is tolerable as quoted, but that’s surface stuff. Jake, not being anything close to a control specialist, even with a tolerable walk ratio is still subject to running hitters counts on a moment’s notice. That’s the sort of stuff that prevents a guy with his stuff from carrying through to having his ERA be a better number than where it’s been. Some walks are fine, they can get a better matchup, Master Maddux used them occasionally to set up next time at bats. But Jake has to keep striving to throw strikes and get ahead in counts at least as much as minimizing walks. Guy like him falls behind down, 2 and 0, I can just imagine the pressure he at least should feel to throw a strike. Sometimes, it’s aggrivating, yesterday was entertaining because of the grand slam plus lead. But with that talent, boy, can he test patience.

Jermain Mitchell may just be that surprise roster candidate. I hope they give him a better look. Still have 2 weeks to sort it out, so who is the OF’ers this year? Revere & Brown (givens), then any 3 of: Mayberry, Nix, Incarte, Mitchell, Ruf, Orr (as IF/OF), Young (in May).

Maybe you should get a refund from Hallmark. If your calendar shows 2 weeks to decide. We are down to 8 days ’til the opener. Boom chukka boom.

I really hadn’t thought that much about Mitchell making the club, have to brush up on his game, I thought there was at least some merit to planting the thought though. And there’sat least the possibility of another wild card in the mix. Late spring roster cuts might offer some talent at good prices to consider for bench outfield positions. The current mix offers decent, if not good choices, and they probably lean toward known talent, but we still may see a fresh face on the PD roster.

Since Ian seems to be the one writing the pre game stuff, and although maybe everyone would present it without opponent starting lineups, I don’t feel like I’m jumping the gun by posting the lineup Doc will face. The O’s have a split squad setup today, and are running more recognizable, and assumedly more talent elsewhere.

1. Alexi Casilla (S) 2B

2. Ryan Flaherty (L) SS

3. Nolan Reimold (R) DH

4. Wilson Betemit (S) 3B

5. Taylor Teagarden (R) C

6. Jason Pridie (L) LF

7. Steve Pearce (R) RF

8. Travis Ishikawa (L) 1B

9. Trayvon Robinson (S) CF

For the Phils, Galvis is at short, and no surprises elsewhere. You’d think Jimmy will be back starting next game as Charlie probably does some Top 9 this week to get some rhythm goin. I’m sure the full Phillie 9 will follow later, but a little sneak preview action seemed appropriate since some curiousity must be attached to Jimmy.